Officials are probing how a 51-year-old highway bridge came to collapse in the Italian port city of Genoa yesterday, killing at least 26 people and injuring 16 others as it sent dozens of vehicles tumbling into a heap of concrete and twisted steel.

But shadow attorney-general John Pesutto said the review should not be used as an excuse by the Andrews government to weaken Victoria's sentencing laws.

"Baseline sentencing was introduced in response to public demands for tougher sentences for serious crimes and (premier) Daniel Andrews must not compromise community safety by weakening these laws," he said.

The state's Sentencing Advisory Council will advise the government on possible new sentencing guidances that could be included in future legislation and how these should be applied.